Abu Dhabi University has launched the Khalifa Fund for Technopreneur Projects Competition, in partnership with the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development.

The competition is aimed at integrating technology into entrepreneurship, so that technopreneurs can learn how to transform a technical idea into the final prototype ready for the market, said a statement.  

The ADU Enterprise, the university's innovation and entrepreneurship centre, said the deadline for sending the entries was February 26.

Shortlisted candidates will attend workshops on how to accelerate the process between the technical idea and a market-ready product, it stated.

The three most exceptional candidates will receive seed funding from Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, if they meet the fund’s condition and one-to-one mentoring in business and technical expertise from ADU Enterprise, said the ADU.

Winners will also have access to the university’s resources, advanced infrastructure, in-depth technical support, faculty and networking opportunities to perfect their skills.  

The university’s chancellor Dr Nabil Ibrahim said: “One of the UAE’s greatest assets along with oil and gas is the intellectual wealth of the nation’s people. Through this competition, we’re hoping to prove that intellectual wealth is the gateway to financial wealth, and not the other way round.”

Ibrahim Ahmed Al Mansoori, chief operation officer of the fund, said: “We are aiming to make the Emirati entrepreneurs able to participate in supporting the local economy and to empower the knowledge economy. Launching Khalifa Fund for Technopreneur Projects Competition will contribute in encouraging the entrepreneurs to innovate and being creative in the modern technology sector.” - TradeArabia News Service